Abusive Husband Charged With Murder in Wife's Suicide

In 2015, Jessica Haban committed suicide after suffering extreme emotional and physical abuse at the hands of her husband. In a rare event, the state of Minnesota charged her abuser, Long Vang, with murder in the case.

Vang stalked Jessica, threatened her with her children, poured oil on her, manipulated her, and physically abused her throughout their relationship. On one occasion, Vang put a knife to Jessica’s throat.

Jessica was overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, and physically overwhelmed. She needed out and attempted to get help at a mental health facility. Sadly, Vang told her she’d lose the kids if she did not check out of the center and come home.

She checked out -and was dead three days later.

STORY--

Jessica Haban suffered mental, emotional, and physical abuse at the hands of her husband, Long Vang, throughout their entire 11-year marriage. The abuse progressively worsened as years passed and Jessica birthed the couple’s two children.

Vang called Jessica names, pulled out her hair, spit in her face, degraded her, attempted to control her, threw her against walls, knocked her unconscious, and on at least one occasion, put a knife to her throat. Vang told Jessica that she was “bad” and poured vegetable oil all over her body to get the bad out of her. The abuse Jessica endured was ongoing, leading to a restraining order being put into effect against the man.

Haban Commits Suicide

On December 17, 2015, the 28-year-old woman took her own life to escape her abusive husband. The man allegedly attacked her three days earlier.

It is estimated that 6% to 13% of all suicide victims are also victims of domestic violence.

After years of abuse and trauma, Haban was tired. Not physically tired, but emotionally drained and exhausted. She felt her only option to escape the years of abuse, stalking, and torment inflicted upon her by Vang was suicide.

An Attack Caused TBI

In May 2015, Vang attacked Jessica so severely, she was left with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI.)

Vang forced Haban to check out of the hospital against medical advice in December after she checked into a mental health facility. Jessica confided in a social worker that Vang was pressuring her to leave the facility -which she did on December 13th- and killed herself a few days later. Vang told her if she did not check out of the hospital she would be institutionalized and lose her children.

Vang Charged With Murder

On June 16, 2016, Stewartville, Minnesota, police charged Vang with stalking, second-degree manslaughter, and third-degree murder in Haban’s suicide. Olmstead County DA said when handing down the charges against Vang, “I believe Mr. Vang’s conduct directly contributed to the death of his partner. Mr. Vang was clearly aware of the precarious state of his partner’s emotions following her hospitalizations and he continued his relentless contacts until her death.”

Murder Charges Dismissed; Six-Years on Felony Stalking Conviction

Although presenting such a case in a Minnesota court (or, any court in America, for that matter,) was unprecedented, the DA said that he was up to the challenge and assured they’d have their “ducks in a row” when Vang went for trial.

Unfortunately, insufficient evidence led to the dismissal of the murder charges against Vang. All wasn’t lost with the charges and murder trial, however, because a jury found him guilty of stalking his ex-wife.

Vang was convicted of felony stalking. A judge sentenced him to six years, four months in prison, with credit given for the 259 days Vang served in jail.

Rest easy, Jessica.

Go straight to hell and do not pass go, Long Vang.